Lee Robert

Robert E. Lee's Surrender Lead Story of April 15, 1865 Issue of Army & Navy Journal

A nearly pristine copy of the April 15, 1865 issue of the Army and Navy Journal: Gazette of the Regular and Volunteer Forces (Volume II, Number 34). The 16pp printed newspaper shows expected horizontal folds, but is otherwise in near fine condition. Very rare outside of library microfilm. 10.125" x 14.25".

This issue went to press on April 13, 1865 around 6 pm, as indicated by a small editorial note found on page 537. Thus, even though the issue appeared on newsstands the morning following Lincoln's assassination, it was published more than 24 hours before then. The newspaper is frozen in time, and in this way, contains unsettlingly mundane references to the soon-to-be-dead president. For example, it reproduces in full three presidential proclamations regarding southern port closures and U.S. access to foreign ports. Lincoln had issued these proclamations on April 11th. When readers consulted the paper on April 15th, he had expired only a few hours before.

The lead story of the April 15, 1865 issue, entitled "Campaign in Virginia", related the principal events leading up to General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. On page 538, the newspaper reproduced the correspondence exchanged between Generals Lee and Grant and U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, from April 7 to April 9th.

Another lead story, entitled "North and South", marked the fourth anniversary of the surrender of Fort Sumter.

In part:

"Precisely four years ago, the flag of the Union was hauled down from Sumter. The fourth anniversary of that disastrous event finds the old colors raised once more in Charleston Harbor, the National arms everywhere gilded with glorious triumphs, the chief army of the Confederacy surrendered, the Rebellion substantially over, and Union, with Peace and with Emancipation, on the verge of being restored…The American people may well be proud, that, in the face of 'a frowning world', and against the prophesies of statesmen and soldiers in Europe, it has steadily and unitedly waged the most remarkable civil war of all history, and brought it to a triumphant conclusion…" (p. 536).

The issue listed wounded and killed servicemen, and also those who were dismissed, resigned, restored to commission, or absent without leave. It also provided information about sunk or damaged shipping.

With several pages of contemporary advertisements found at the end of the newspaper, including one for Barnum's American Museum. This New York City landmark would burn down in a horrible conflagration just three months later, on July 13, 1865.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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